The council will work with BiogenGreenfinch who will build and run the facility. They would aim to have it up and running by summer 2013, creating three new jobs.

At present food waste either goes to landfill or is composted.

Gwynedd environment portfolio leader Councillor Gareth Roberts said: “The innovative GwyriAD project which is likely be the first AD facility delivered by a Welsh council underlines our aim of finding creative and green solutions to deal with our waste.

“This exciting project will ensure that Gwynedd’s food waste – which will be collected on a weekly basis – can be treated in a more efficient way.”

Councillor Arwel Pierce, who leads on highways and municipal matters for Gwynedd Council added: “The GwyriAD project will not only reduce the amount of food waste we send to landfill, the process used to treat the waste will also create a natural biofertiliser which can be used on the land as well as being a source of renewable energy to create electricity.

“This new and modern facility will help Gwynedd to reduce the amount of unnecessary waste sent to landfill sites.”

BiogenGreenfinch’s Richard Barker said: “We are proud and delighted to have been selected to build what will be the first anaerobic digestion facility in Wales specifically designed to take local authority collected food waste.

“We, together with our funders Iona, look forward to working with Gwynedd council over the next 15 years to make this project both an environmental and operational success.”

A detailed planning application for the facility has been presented to council planners. If planning consent is obtained, BiogenGreenfinch will be responsible for building the facility at Llwyn Isaf near Clynnog Fawr. Llwyn Isaf is presently a landfill site which will close.

The company will run the facility for 15 years after which the council has an option to do so.